Bogus Caller Crimes

Alarmed by the extent of bogus caller crimes the British Gas Help the Aged Partnership has  launched a massive initiative, the National Senior Safety Campaign, to raise awareness of this ever growing problem.

There is a large discrepancy between official figures and estimates of actual crimes committed as many of these crimes go unreported. The Home Office Distraction Burglary Task Force estimates there to be 100,000 incidents per year, in stark contrast to the actual Police figures of only 12,000 recorded incidents annually.

Older people are reluctant to report these offences to the police for a number reasons such as embarrassment, fear, a belief that reporting the crime is futile and they are, in some cases, unaware they have been burgled.

Bogus callers are part of a highly organised, professional criminal fraternity. They pose as utility workers, tradespeople, and even police officers to gain entry into older people's homes with the intent of stealing money and valuables. The offenders are intelligent, highly organised individuals, often travelling long distances and exchanging victim information through a network of associates. This type of crime is not petty and can result in perpetrators taking thousands of pounds from their unsuspecting victims.

This crime is a particularly cruel and distressing one and the effects can have devastating effects on quality of life. Victims have suffered heart attacks, strokes, and deterioration in mental health. At its most extreme, post traumatic stress resulting from a bogus caller incident can lead to death.

The average age of victims is 78, with more than three quarters of these victims being female. Older people are particularly singled out as targets for these heinous crimes for a number of reasons:

• They have regular habits, collecting pensions for example
• They are perceived as being easier to dupe, particularly due to their trust of authority
• They are more inclined to keep cash and valuables in the home
• Their age affects their ability to fight or flee a bogus caller.

Brian Steele, Leeds Distraction Burglary Initiative Co-ordinator, commented:

"I would urge any victim of bogus caller crime to report it to the police. We need to have an accurate understanding of offending patterns if we are to develop effective prevention plans and bring about the arrest of offenders."

The tragedy of bogus caller crime is that it is entirely preventable if a few simple steps are taken:

• Always put the chain on before you open the door
• Always ask to see an identification card - then ring the company concerned to check that the caller is genuine
• Always ask the caller to call back later when you have someone with you if you are still unsure.

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